“Sky Fall,” original lyrics Song created as part of the Hip Hop Literacy project William Smith High School Aurora, Colorado This song was created by three students in the Hip Hop literacy project at William Smith High School in Aurora, Colorado (Peter Baer, teacher). In this project, students develop their literary analysis skills and apply them to hip hop lyrics, learn about the history and culture of hip hop, and write, record, and perform their own original hip hop lyrics. “Sky Fall,” written by 10th and 11th graders Oscar, Daniela, and Timoteo, is about the value of perseverance in the face of obstacles. These three students revised their lyrics again and again, working together to achieve the precise sound and message and they wanted to create. This recording, made at the studio at Youth on Record in Denver, CO, reflects the many hours these students poured into writing, revising, and rehearsing this powerful piece of art. Hook - Till the sky falls, till the ground breaks I’ma chill right here livin’ my way! I’ma do me, hell with what you say Feel the stress, but I’m busy makin’ moves - aye! Verse 1 (Tim) - I made it out the hood, I am misunderstood I went from hanging with the gangs now I switched my lane I don’t play no games we made it through the rain (made it through the rain) It’s that light in my eyes that made me realize The streets are a cemetery in disguise Your homie got shot and that derailed you I’ma get my payback, yeah I’ll avenge you I might make you layback and make you drop All my pain, oh please, make it stop So much weight on such little shoulders His heart is getting colder Winter’s coming in and the air is getting breezy I know that life ain’t ever frickin’ easy (never easy) Verse 2 (Daniela) - Every step weaker than the last Lights gone out, in a flash Like the year, done passed Didn’t even ask But I done picked myself up Strapped up, might need to blast Felt like a gash it was only a scratch A bump in the road extra tire in the back I’m out the gate, resurfaced, yeah, yeah Now I can meditate Escaped unlikely fate, unfazed Nothing will forsake Me, knees hit the concrete Thank the Lord Suns out after it’s poured I’m steady minded, grindin Worlds crumblin, I’m blinded Need that valour bag secured Escaped the void of my thoughts Success in the prints of my walks Writing my wrongs To see how I lived in these songs The cares I give are imperative Although the heart is delicate It still remains perilous And my mind’s my true benefit Verse 3 (Oscar) - Dark clouds spinning but I can’t stop grinning I’m winning, I’m different, one in a million The sky fell down but I’m chilling like a villain Green grass gas only way that I’m tripping Listen, I’ll tell you bout where my mind’s at Ain’t got time for no nonsense focus on my tracks Conducting my symphony rhythm and the raps Even when I’m off course I can find my way back To the bad times to the good times Either or it’s my life I just write rhymes Process all the mess that I come by Yeah there’s bumps on the road but it’s my ride Feeling like I’m drowning in the fountain of the youth Wanna grow old but you never get to choose So I focus on the road worry little bout the views But that get kinda lonely if I’m really bout the truth But until the end you can catch me straight chilling On the phone open notes bars stay spilling Sentry I know can control most ceilings Pop the top the hip hop rock can be the bop you feeling .